1 SOURCES OF MARATHA HISTORY: INDIAN SOURCES Unit Structure : 1.0 Objectives 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Maratha Sources 1.3 Sanskrit Sources 1.4 Hindi Sources 1.5 Persian Sources 1.6 Summary 1.7 Additional Readings 1.8 Questions 1.0 OBJECTIVES After the completion of study of this unit the student will be able to:- 1. Understand the Marathi sources of the history of Marathas. 2. Explain the matter written in all Bakhars ranging from Sabhasad Bakhar to Tanjore Bakhar. 3. Know Shakavalies as a source of Maratha history. 4. Comprehend official files and diaries as source of Maratha history. 5. Understand the Sanskrit sources of the Maratha history. 6. Explain the Hindi sources of Maratha history. 7. Know the Persian sources of Maratha history. 1.1 INTRODUCTION The history of Marathas can be best studied with the help of first hand source material like Bakhars, State papers, court Histories, Chronicles and accounts of contemporary travelers, who came to India and made observations of Maharashtra during the period of Marathas. The Maratha scholars and historians had worked hard to construct the history of the land and people of Maharashtra. Among such scholars people like Kashinath Sane, Rajwade, Khare and Parasnis were well known luminaries in this field of history writing of Maratha. Kashinath Sane published a mass of original material like Bakhars, Sanads, letters and other state papers in his journal Kavyetihas Samgraha for more eleven years during the nineteenth century. There is much more them contribution of the Bharat Itihas Sanshodhan Mandal, Pune to this regard. In 1910, Rajwade founded this institution and began to publish several reports and journals in Marathi. They are considered as an important source material of the study of Maratha history. Historians like Thakore, 2 Rawlison, Patwardhan and many other Indian and Western historians tried their level best to amass the source material of Maratha history. Regarding the source material of the Maratha history, there has been ample documentary record of the Peshwa period where as the period of Shivaji is concerned there is much scarcity of the source material. There are several reasons for this scarcity of source material as the period of Shivaji was a formative period of the Maratha history. The rulers never spared any time for maintaining any records. These rulers were to fight against the enemies from the north and the south. In this state of affairs the state, whatever was available there got destroyed. The general illiteracy and lack of printing presses contributed to the apathy of written documentary evidences. Naturally, paucity of source material regarding the Royal period is there. Even than the available sources of Maratha history can be studied as under:- 1.2 MARATHA SOURCES There are several official papers, diaries, accounts, Shakavalies and various tables which form an important source material of Maratha history. The Bakhar has proved useful itself as important document in the construction of Maratha history. The Bakhar means to tell the news or record of happenings. The Bakhar is also called as biography of eminent state men of the Maratha period. Such eminent persons only ordered to write Bakhars, which naturally became little more eulogy of these people. It is said that it was the order of the day of the Seventeenth and Eighteenth century India and considered such record as a source of writing of history. V.K. Rajwade and S.N. Joshi say that Bakhars are written in Modi script of Marathi Language after the period of Yadaves. Generally, some histories are critical about the Bakhars as they are based on hearsay and secondary information and can not be relied upon them. Dr. Herwadkar says that Bakhars deal with historical and political matters and resemble with history. (The main task of the historian has been to interpreter the fact and fiction scientifically to convey the people the prowess and spirit of their kings and heroes of the past to inspire-them for nationalism.) Bakhars are conveniently studied as:- 1.1. Sabhasad Bakhar:- This is the prime and most important source of Maratha history. It was written by Krishnaji Anant Sabhasad, a minister of Chhatrapati Rajaram at Jinji in 1694. Krishnaji Anant Sabhasad has described the following events detail, as the position of Maloji, the grand father of shivaji, circumstances during the time of birth of Shivaji, Shivaji's initial campaigns, the Abzal khan episode, ShaisteKhan's attack on Poona, Dilerkhan and siege of Purandhar, and Shivaji's visit to Agra. The writer has 3 mentioned in it the Kharkhanas functioning during the period of Shivaji, the Chandrarao More incidence, Shiledars, Subhedars, forts their income and expenditure. There are some subjective statements like Goddess Bhawani visited and blessed Chhatrapati Shivaji with a sword and Shivaji flew to heaven after his death. Despite these references, Sabhasad has been one of the primary source materials of the history of Marathas. 1.2 Chitnis Bakhar:- Chhatrapati Shahu ordered Malharrao Ramrao Chitnis, to write a bakhar one hundred twenty five years after the death of Shivaji. Malharrao Ramrao Chitnis was a contemporary to Chhatrapati Shivaji. In this bakhar, the writer has shed light on a genealogical order of the Bhosale dynasty, the birth of Rajaram,Chhatrapati Shivaji's infantry artillery, organization of army, Karnataka campaign and his coronation ceremony of 1674. Although, there are some lapses in the chronology of the events, this bakhar has been a valuable source material of the history of Marathas. 1.3. Chitragupta Bhakhar:- Chhatrapati Sambhaji of Kolhapur ordered Chitragupta to write this bakhar during the period between 1760 and 1770. Chitragupta was in close relation with Balaji Avaji a Chitnis of Chhatrapati Shivaji. This bakhar is much more similar to the Sabhasad Bakhar. It means, Chitragupta elaborated the writings of Sabhasad and also added some of his own information. The most important additional information mentioned in this bakhar is that the duties of the secretariat officers in the Maratha administration. 1.4 Shivdigvijay:- Khando Ballal, the son of Balaji Avaji wrote this bakhar in 1718. Although this bakhar has been the most voluminous work of the writer, has not made any mention about the working of Shivaji's administration. Khando Ballal was familiar with the western literature but the genealogy of Bhosale family, which he prepared on the basis of Mughal and Rajput sources, has proved inconsistent. The writer has given detail information regarding the first Bhosala who came to Deccan was a man of ruling family of Mewar, Rajasthan. Shivaji's campaign on Javali, Rajapur and Shaistekhan, the maternal uncle of Aurangzeb. The contribution of Kayastha Prabhu to Royal period and their heroism in various wars against the enemies of Shivaji. Although, the writer has used highly sankritised and rich language his references regarding Tanaji Malusare's visit to Hydrabad and Raja Jaising;s death at Jaipur in 1667 are totally contradictory with the truth. 1.5. Shedgaonkar Bakhar:- Although more than one writers have contributed towards the completion of this Bakhar, it gives reliable and consistent information about the Royal period. This bakhar mentions Sajjan Singh was the ancestor of Chhatrapati 4 Shivaji, who came from Rajasthan and settled down in the Deccan. The bakhar has also given detail information of genealogy of Shivaji up to Chhtrapati Pratap Singh Bhosale of Satara. This bakhar therefore has been treated as one of the important sources of Maratha history. 1.6. Chandrarao Moray Bakhar:- This is one of the well known bakhars giving authentic information regarding the Royal period of Marathas. This bakhar deals with the battle of Rakshastagadi, kingdoms of Bijapur, Ahmadnagar, process of assigning watan of Javali and the title of Raja Chandrarao Moray by Adilshah and the circumstances leading to Shivaji's campain on Javali in 1655. 1.7. Sashti Bakhar:- This is the Bakhar written about Chimaji Appa and his conquest of north Kokan. Chimaji Appa was the brother of Peshwa Bajirao I, who helped him to conquer the area. Chimaji Appa attacked Sashtior Salsette in 1737 and Vasai in 1739 and brought the under the control of marathas. This bakhar deals with the way Chimaji attacked the above places, the fall of Vasai fort, the manner in which Gangaji Naik, the lieutenant of Chimaji helped him in this affairs and the circumstances which led Chimaji to attack Sashti, which was then under the Portuguese. 1.8. The Peshwa Bakhar: - It is said that Shrinivas Daji, a well wisher of the Peshwa family ordered Krishnaji Sohoni, to note down all important incidents of all Peshwas till the decline of the Marathas in 1818. Krishnaji Sohoni discharged his duties towards the Peshwa, family with much cove and caution in language and stile in writing rather than caring to historicity. 1.9. Shahu Bakhar: - Govind Khanderao Chitnis one of the close associates of Peshwa, has written this bakhar. As the title suggests, this bakhar deals with the problems and situation Shahu faced when he was in the Mughal Court as prisoner with his mother. It is said that Aurangzab called Shahu as shah and shahu is the corruption shah. shahu being prisoner in his childhood could not get any formal education in his childhood. The writer has mentioned these things in detail in this bakhar, 1.10. Bhausaheb Bakhar:- It is said that Mahadji Shinde ordered to with this bakhar as soon as the disaster of Panipat. Although the reliability of this bakhar is doubtful it gives some detail ideas abut the existing socio- economic scenario of the Marath country. Another bakhar in the name of Panipat is also refered to. Gopikabai Peshwa, the wife of Nanasahab Peshwa ordered Raghunath yadav an employee in the court of Peshwa to write this bakhar as soon as the tragedy was happened.